The Peninsula Chicago

Travelers can savor a taste of the VIP lifestyle at Chicago's ritziest hotel.

This international chain has combined its traditional Hong Kong training with a Midwestern flair to provide a staff that is warm, welcoming and unquestionably service-oriented. Standard rooms begin at 531 square feet and come complete with marble baths. Inset televisions, soaking tubs and speakerphones are available in all the bathrooms, and bedside control panels mean no one has to stumble through the dark to turn off the last light. A full guest room redesign took its inspiration from luxury yachts, creating a clean, crisp look with dark wood and rich blue fabric accents.

From the top floor, the full-service spa overlooks Michigan Avenue through floor-to-ceiling windows. In this location along the Magnificent Mile, the staff often teams with Saks Fifth Avenue to produce preview fashion shows in the lobby for guests and visitors. After viewing the latest clothing trends, guests can shop the award-winning shops on Michigan Avenue or visit unique Chicago sites such as the John Hancock Center or Water Tower Place. After enjoying live jazz in the hotel lobby, guests may dine in any of the three house restaurants or begin an evening out with cocktails on the terrace. Celebrity sightings aren't at all unusual, as this is the hotel of choice for actors, athletes and musicians when they're in town for business or pleasure. Even if you don't see a star, the hotel will make sure you live like one.

Another vodka. Another rum. Another bourbon. Yet another vodka. Things can get monotonous in the spirit world, as there are so many different brands, but so few types of base spirits. Every once in a while a VeeV comes along to break the tedium, but it's rare for a spirit to stray far from its predecessors.

Another vodka. Another rum. Another bourbon. Yet another vodka. Things can get monotonous in the spirit world, as there are so many different brands, but so few types of base spirits. Every once in a while a VeeV comes along to break the tedium, but it's rare for a spirit to stray far from its predecessors.